City and province of enlistment: Windsor, Ontario - No. 8 Recruiting centre
Essay
Personal Life
Frank William Mooney was born on November 13th in Edmonton, Alberta in 1922 to Elizabeth and Bernard Mooney, when at the time his father was working as radiologist and had worked at Edmonton General Hospital, Alberta in the 1920s and 30s which could be where Frank was born before the family moved to Vancouver, British Columbia (Website; Yorkshine-aircraft). He was smaller for a guy, only with a height of 5’7, weighing 126 pounds and with blue eyes along with canadian citizenship. He was a single man who lived with both his parents on 148 Kingways Ave in Winnipeg, Manitoba and who also practiced Roman Catholic religion (Service records). When he was young, he attented Grandin Separate, a primary school in Edmonton, Alberta from grades 1-8. After this, he then went to St. Joseph High School in Alberta, but only for grade 9. For grade 10, he has moved to British Columbia and attented St Louis College in Victoria for one year. He then moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba to attented St. Paul's College for grades 11 & 12 and graduated from there in 1941. After graduating from St. Paul's college, he went to the University of Manitoba from 1941-1942 in pre-medical. During the years od 1940 to 1942, Frank Mooney had two jobs. His first job was at the Uptown Theatre as an usher but quit to resume school. His second job was at the Defense Industries LTD as a labor, but after a year, he quit to resume school again (Service records). Training
At the young age of 20 years old, Frank Mooney joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. He was posted to the UK in 1944 and formed up with the main part of his crew at an Operational Training Unit before posting to 1659 HCU later in the year. While in the air force, he established a nickname for himself, which he went by “Pranger”. Frank William Mooney belonged to the air crew called HCU (Heavy Conversion Unit) 1659. In this unit, he was a flying officer and was also a trainer to other people learning to fly planes for two years..1659 HCU Topclif was both a training unit and an operational unit, as Sir Arthur Harris made the decision to utilize the OTUs on operations in order to engage in concentrated bombing.
During the time of the war, in November 1944, the OTU establishments passed from No. 6 Group to No. 7 (Training) Group and No. 1659 HCU began to dispose of its Halifaxes in exchange for Lancasters. A total of 123 bombers were lost while flying from Topcliffe on operations, 83 Whitleys, 9 Wellingtons and 31 Halifaxes. During his short time in the war and with the Royal Canadian Air Force, Frank Mooney achieved some medals. He received medals such as: defense medal, general service medal and the C.V.S.M. medal as well.
Map Source: The Crucible of War 1939-1945 by Brereton Greenhous, Stephen J. Harris, William C. Johnston and William G.P. Rawling, inset map page 840-841.
The map at left shows the northerly location of the RCAF 6 Group. This northerly location resulted in much poor weather for the Canadian Group due to fog and severe icing conditions. The map below and at left shows the stations operated by the RCAF, 6 Group in Yorkshire from Jan 1943 to war's end. In total 11 stations were controlled by the RCAF by 1945. All Canadian Squadrons were in the 400 number series and in total there were 15 Squadrons in the 400 series which served in 6 Group. Death
On January 15, 1945, Flying officer Frank William Mooney passed away in a flying accident in Felixkirk. There was two possibe options reason for the accident. The first was the pilot experienced engine trouble shortly after take-off and therefore was unable to gain any height. Secondly, the piloth may have been nervous and although he made a good take-off, his reactions were slow. His burial was in Yorkshire, united kingdom at the Horrogate (stonefall) cemetery. His book of remembrance of the second world war is on page 547.
A map of where they were located at the time of the war
Lancasrer Plane used during the second world war
Military Service Record
Defence Medal
C.V.S.M Medal
Age (at death): 23 years old (45')
Force: Roayal Canadian Air Force
Unit:1659 HCU
Service Number: J38975 - Reg. No
Honours and Awards: Defence Medal, General service medal, and C.V.S.M.
Photograph: Yes
Next of Kin (and relationship): may have changed since he enlisted
Date of Death Jan. 15, 1945
Country of Burial: Yorkshine, United Kingdom
Cemetery: Harrogate (stonefall) cemetery
Grave Reference: Sec. G. row E. Grave 6
Location:East side of harrogate cemetery
Book of Remembrance: Page 547 of the second world war
“Bomber Command .” Royal Canadian Air Force. National defence Canada , n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2012. <http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/v2/hst/page-eng.asp?id=890#s4>. This website gives info about the type of planes that Mooney used with his time in the air force as a flying officer.
“F/O Frank Mooney .” Yorkshine-Aircraft . N.p., n.d. Web. 16 May 2012. <http://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/aircraft/planes/45/fwmooney.html>. This website gave some info of his personal and training life up until his death.
“433 squadron No 6 (RCAF).” The whp family . N.p., n.d. Web. 16 May 2012. <http://thewhpfamily.com/wwout9/index1.htm>. This website gave me some good info on where Frank Mooney and his crew were doing majority of their work during the war. It gives us the exact pin point of where they were.
“1659 HCU.” 6 group RCAF. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 May 2012. <http://www.6grouprcaf.com/1659HCU.html>. This website provided a nice picture of the air crew of the 1659 HCU.
Archival Reference
Military service files of Flying Officer Frank William Mooney (F/O J-38975, 1944-1945) obtained from Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ontario.
Blair Mattes
HCU 1659 Flying Officer
J-38975
R.C.A.F (Royal Canadian Air Force)
Service Personnel Information
Name:Frank William Mooney
Service Regimental Number: J-38975
Rank: Flying Officer/Staff (F/O)
Height/weight: 5'7, 126 - weight
Colour of eyes: Blue
Marital status: Single
Religion: Roman Catholic
Address: 148 Kingway Ave
Next of Kin (and relationship): Dr. F.W. Mooney
Date of enlistment:26-8-42 (Aircrew)
City and province of enlistment: Windsor, Ontario - No. 8 Recruiting centre
Essay
Personal LifeFrank William Mooney was born on November 13th in Edmonton, Alberta in 1922 to Elizabeth and Bernard Mooney, when at the time his father was working as radiologist and had worked at Edmonton General Hospital, Alberta in the 1920s and 30s which could be where Frank was born before the family moved to Vancouver, British Columbia (Website; Yorkshine-aircraft). He was smaller for a guy, only with a height of 5’7, weighing 126 pounds and with blue eyes along with canadian citizenship. He was a single man who lived with both his parents on 148 Kingways Ave in Winnipeg, Manitoba and who also practiced Roman Catholic religion (Service records). When he was young, he attented Grandin Separate, a primary school in Edmonton, Alberta from grades 1-8. After this, he then went to St. Joseph High School in Alberta, but only for grade 9. For grade 10, he has moved to British Columbia and attented St Louis College in Victoria for one year. He then moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba to attented St. Paul's College for grades 11 & 12 and graduated from there in 1941. After graduating from St. Paul's college, he went to the University of Manitoba from 1941-1942 in pre-medical. During the years od 1940 to 1942, Frank Mooney had two jobs. His first job was at the Uptown Theatre as an usher but quit to resume school. His second job was at the Defense Industries LTD as a labor, but after a year, he quit to resume school again (Service records).
Training
At the young age of 20 years old, Frank Mooney joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. He was posted to the UK in 1944 and formed up with the main part of his crew at an Operational Training Unit before posting to 1659 HCU later in the year. While in the air force, he established a nickname for himself, which he went by “Pranger”. Frank William Mooney belonged to the air crew called HCU (Heavy Conversion Unit) 1659. In this unit, he was a flying officer and was also a trainer to other people learning to fly planes for two years..1659 HCU Topclif was both a training unit and an operational unit, as Sir Arthur Harris made the decision to utilize the OTUs on operations in order to engage in concentrated bombing.
During the time of the war, in November 1944, the OTU establishments passed from No. 6 Group to No. 7 (Training) Group and No. 1659 HCU began to dispose of its Halifaxes in exchange for Lancasters. A total of 123 bombers were lost while flying from Topcliffe on operations, 83 Whitleys, 9 Wellingtons and 31 Halifaxes. During his short time in the war and with the Royal Canadian Air Force, Frank Mooney achieved some medals. He received medals such as: defense medal, general service medal and the C.V.S.M. medal as well.
Map Source: The Crucible of War 1939-1945 by Brereton Greenhous, Stephen J. Harris, William C. Johnston and William G.P. Rawling, inset map page 840-841.
The map at left shows the northerly location of the RCAF 6 Group. This northerly location resulted in much poor weather for the Canadian Group due to fog and severe icing conditions. The map below and at left shows the stations operated by the RCAF, 6 Group in Yorkshire from Jan 1943 to war's end. In total 11 stations were controlled by the RCAF by 1945. All Canadian Squadrons were in the 400 number series and in total there were 15 Squadrons in the 400 series which served in 6 Group.
Death
On January 15, 1945, Flying officer Frank William Mooney passed away in a flying accident in Felixkirk. There was two possibe options reason for the accident. The first was the pilot experienced engine trouble shortly after take-off and therefore was unable to gain any height. Secondly, the piloth may have been nervous and although he made a good take-off, his reactions were slow. His burial was in Yorkshire, united kingdom at the Horrogate (stonefall) cemetery. His book of remembrance of the second world war is on page 547.
Military Service Record
Age (at death): 23 years old (45')
Force: Roayal Canadian Air Force
Unit:1659 HCU
Service Number: J38975 - Reg. No
Honours and Awards: Defence Medal, General service medal, and C.V.S.M.
Photograph: Yes
Next of Kin (and relationship): may have changed since he enlisted
Date of Death Jan. 15, 1945
Country of Burial: Yorkshine, United Kingdom
Cemetery: Harrogate (stonefall) cemetery
Grave Reference: Sec. G. row E. Grave 6
Location:East side of harrogate cemetery
Book of Remembrance: Page 547 of the second world war
Grave Reference
Name of Cemetery: Harrogate (stonefall) Cemetery
Grave Reference: Sec. G. row E. grave 6
Additional information/links
http://www.warplane.com/pages/aircraft_lancaster.htmlWorks Cited
“Bomber Command .” Royal Canadian Air Force. National defence Canada , n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2012. <http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/v2/hst/page-eng.asp?id=890#s4>. This website gives info about the type of planes that Mooney used with his time in the air force as a flying officer.
“F/O Frank Mooney .” Yorkshine-Aircraft . N.p., n.d. Web. 16 May 2012. <http://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/aircraft/planes/45/fwmooney.html>. This website gave some info of his personal and training life up until his death.
“433 squadron No 6 (RCAF).” The whp family . N.p., n.d. Web. 16 May 2012. <http://thewhpfamily.com/wwout9/index1.htm>. This website gave me some good info on where Frank Mooney and his crew were doing majority of their work during the war. It gives us the exact pin point of where they were.“1659 HCU.” 6 group RCAF. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 May 2012. <http://www.6grouprcaf.com/1659HCU.html>. This website provided a nice picture of the air crew of the 1659 HCU.
Archival Reference
Military service files of Flying Officer Frank William Mooney (F/O J-38975, 1944-1945) obtained from Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ontario.
example from LAC